Scale beam



July 31, 1923. 1,463,249

, E. E. BURROWS SCALE BEAM Filed July 9, 1921 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 31, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST EDWIN BUEROWS, OF ST. JO'EI'ISBUIZ Y, YER-MONT, ASSIGNOR TO E.AND T.

FAIRBANKS AND COMPANY, OF VERMONT.

EOHNSBURY, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF SCALE BEAIVI.

Application filed. July 3,

T 0 all whom di may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. Bonnows, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at St. Johnsbury, in the county of Caledonia and Stateof Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ScaleBeams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to scale beams and more particularly in some ofits details to scale beams adapted to be used in connection withautomatic weighing scales.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved scale beam ofsimple and rigid construction not likely to become distorted or warpedin use, and retaining its initial accuracy throughout long periods ofsevere service.

Another object is to provide a metallic scale beam of improvedconstruction which is comparatively rigid and light in weight, and whichis comparatively inexpensive in manufacturing costs.

Still another object is to provide an improved scale beam of the classmentioned. so constructed as to resist warping or twisting in service,and having smooth external surfaces free from cracks or crevices, andwell adapted to prevent accumulations of foreign matter or moisture.

.Other objects will. be in part obvious in connection with the followingdetailed description of an embodiment of the invention and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of ele ments and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction herein after set forth, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative but preferredembodiment of the invention is shown, Figure 1 is a. side elevation of ascale beam embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a top plan viewthereof.

As shown in the drawing, the improved scale beam comprises two spacedparallel arms 1 and 2, preferably of cast metal, and of girder formbeing deepest in vertical dimension near the center of length. EachSerial No. 483,388.

arm comprises a vertical web 3 provided at its upper edge with a tensionmember or flange 4, preferably approximately circular in cross-sectionacting also as a rigidifying or stiffening member, and hereinafter referred to as a bulb flange. This flange has oppositely inclined sectionsdiverging and inclining downwardly from a central point 5 where thesections merge.

Adjacent the merging point 5, each beam arm is provided with anoutwardly extending integral lug or trunnion 6 merging at its under sidewith a thickened portion 6 of the web 3 which forms a reinforcementtherefor and a support for the lug. Each lug 6 is adapted to carry aknife edge bearing member 8, these bearing members being aligned on theopposite arms to form the pivotal support for the beam, and the bearingfaces preferably lying higher than the center of gravity of the beamarm.

The spaced arms 4 are rigidly connected together by a transverse channelmember 9 integral therewith and comprising a web having oppositeanticlinal surfaces 10 and 10", and downwardly extending flanges 11. Theopposite anticlinal surfaces 10 and 10' of the web correspond in slopeto the inclined sections of the bulb angle 4 and merge with the latter.The downwardly extending flange on one side may be cut away at both endsas at 11 to accommodate parts of the scale mechanism, not illustrated.

At opposite ends, each arm 1 or 2 is provided with thickened portionsintegral and merging with the web 3 and flange 4, and providing terminalsupporting blocks 12 and 153 for pivot knife edge bearings. These knifeedge bearings are adapted for support ing weight box at one end and aweigh hopper at the other end, comprising parts of the automatic scalewith which this beam is adapted to be used. One beam arm is providedwith an extension 14, preferably integral therewith, and bolted theretois an angularly disposed arm 15, the purpose of which is to cooperatewith and control certain parts of the automatic scale. An integralenlargement 16 is also provided on this extension for mounting a.plunger which is adapted to cooperate with and control certain parts ofthe automatic scale. The opposite beam arm is also provided with anintegral extension 17 having a lug for detachably connecting anoperating element (not shown), which is employed in the operation of-theautomatic scale.

It will be noted that the supporting lugs or trunnions 6 are disposed atthe angle between the merging sections of the bulb flanges 4', thelatter functioning as tension members to transmit to the trunnions theloads at opposite ends of the beam, while the webs 3 function as thecompression members. The transverse channel member 9 provides a lightrigid connection between the spaced; arms which is well adapted to.resist twisting or other distortion, of the parts, and holding armsinaccurate alignment and maintaining accuracy oithe scale under severeservice conditions.

It; will also be noted that various parts of; the beam are formed topresent smooth curved surfaces, particularly thev upwardly disposed;surfaces, so. as to shed off any foreign material which may come incontact therewith. Corners, crevices, or other places likely toaccumulate moisture or other foreign matter have been avoided. By thisconstruction, accumulations of foreign matter tending to unbalance thescale and to in-. terfQre, with accuracy of operation, have beenavoided.

AS manychanges could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope. thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in. the above description orv shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitinsense.

It; also, to be understood that the language used in the followingclaims is intended to cover all of the generic and cifiic features ofthe invention herein described,anrl all statements. of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be Said to falltherebetween.

Having described my invention what I claimas new and desire to secure byLettens Pat t, is'

1. A scale beam having parallel metallic arms adapted to carry pivotalbearings for supporting the beam and scale parts, each arm having astiffening flange providing a tension member for the arm extending alongone edge thereof and having angularly disposed oppositely downwardlyinclined sections, and a web rigid with said arms and extendingtherebetween, said web having a depending stiffening flange andpresenting a smooth and unobstructed upper surface.

2. A scale beam having parallel metallic arms adapted to carry pivotalbearings for supporting the beam and scale parts, each arm having astiffening flange extending along one edge thereof and having angularlydisposed sections, an integral web provided with a stiffening flangeextending between said arms, and supporting lugs disposed adjacent themeeting points of said flange sections of each arm and formed integraltherewith.

3. In a scale beam, in combination, parallel girder arms, each providedwith a web having a bulb stiffening flange extending therealong, saidflanges having mergin angularl-v disposed sections, lugs disposedadjacent the merging point of said sections, and a transverse connectingmember having anticlinal surfaces merging with said girder arms. 1

i A scale beam having spaced girder shaped arms provided with tensionmembers extendin along the upper portion thereof, and a sti ening andrigidifying memberem tending between said arms formed integral therewithand presenting an inclined upwardly directed smooth surface for sheddingmoisture and other extraneous matter, said rigidifying member beingprovided with depending reinforcing flanges along the margins. thereof.

5. In a scale beam, in combination, parallel girder arms each providedwith a web having a stiffening flange extending therealong and providinga tension member, each of said tension members having angularly disposeddownwardly inclined sections. lugs disposed adjacent the merging pointof said inclined sections and a transverse connecting member rigid withsaid arms and presenting an inclined upwardly directed smooth surfacefor shedding moisture and other extraneous matter, said rigidifyingmember having depending reinforcing flanges extending therealong.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of. twowitnesses.

' ERNEST EDVIN BURROVVS.

Witnesses:

PnnLnY F. HAznN, MARIAN H. SUITOR.

